3G: The Next Generation – Patent

The first 3G network in the UK was launched back in 2003.
However, in the coming weeks, Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) will cease to
offer 3G service across much of the UK (though isolated pockets
remain for slightly longer). This follows the lead of both BT/EE
and Vodafone, who withdrew their 3G services in 2024. We will
therefore shortly witness the end of 3G service in the UK for the
vast majority of users 1. Whilst this
may represent a source of frustration for users of older handsets,
the withdrawal of 3G services should enable spectrum reallocation
to 4G and 5G services, thereby improving the coverage and
performance of these later generations.

In contrast to the decline of 3G, the most recent issue of the
3GPP newsletter2highlights some of the
interesting directions that the both 5G and 6G services are
developing in. Of particular interest are the applications of AI
and machine learning (ML) to 5G-Advanced, with the long-term goal
of facilitating future generations of mobile networks that are
AI-native.

Specifically, the 3GPP newsletter indicates three key
enhancements to 5G-Advanced which should offer significant benefits
to users:

AI/ML-based UE positioning, including deriving UE location
based on ML Models in the Location Management Function (LMF) rather
than on signaling measurements exchanged with the network, thereby
improving the accuracy of UE positioning;

Using ML Models to analyse quality of service (QoS) input
parameters and predicting the quality of experience (QoE) for a
list of QoS parameter sets, enabling an application’s quality
requirements to be met more efficiently;

Mitigating unexpected surges in signalling which may reduce the
QoS provided by identifying the UEs and/or RAN nodes responsible
for the increased load.

For example, the benefits offered by these developments could be
experienced by users while trying to navigate congested urban
pathways, or when streaming music on the train during rush
hour.

From a legal perspective, it will also be interesting to see how
EPO practice will evolve with a greater number of applications for
inventions spanning AI/ML and telecommunications. The EPO
guidelines set out various examples of technical contributions,
some of which may be applicable to these inventions (e.g., signal
enhancement and analysis, efficient data encoding techniques,
encryption/decryption), but additional examples may provide useful
guidance for applicants. For now, to improve the chances of
successful prosecution at the EPO, it is advantageous for European
patent specifications to indicate a parallel with at least one of
these currently accepted examples of technical contribution.

Footnote

1. UK prepares to wave goodbye to 3G telecoms “
The Register

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.